BALTIMORE -- A prescription fruit-and-vegetable program seeks to stave off illnesses caused by poor nutrition and diet in Maryland’s food-insecure communities. Backed by a $480,000 grant from the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the program will be developed and tested by researchers from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Professor Hee-Jung Song leads the study that will provide produce from local farms to Maryland residents at risk of heart disease and related illnesses. Healthcare providers will refer participants most likely to benefit from dietary improvements. The three-year effort will track consumption patterns, as well as any health improvements, using electronic health records. Diet is the primary contributing factor to heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States, Song writes in a story on Today.umd.edu.

“These health issues are linked to what type of food we choose, with 80 to 90% of folks that don’t meet recommended dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption,” Song writes. “These approaches offer prevention or management through changes in lifestyle behavior and diet. At every stage of life, nutrition is important.”

Participating health providers will refer up to 140 patients at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Song is also collaborating with the Montgomery County-based Community FarmShare organization to prepackage baskets of fruits and vegetables from area farmers using participant data from healthcare providers to optimize their nutrition needs.

“We contract purchase with local farmers so they grow the produce that is most needed and desired by the community to best meet dietary needs and cultural preferences,” Community FarmShare founder Jennifer Freeman said in the web story.

After a three-year pilot period, Song hopes to expand his model to a state or national scale.

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